David McNamee
04-20-2004, 06:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://edition.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/04/13/go.work.life.tech/' target='_blank'>http://edition.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/04/13/go.work.life.tech/</a><br /><br /></div>This recent CNN article discusses Microsoft UK's guidelines that were issued regarding off-hours communication. "The provision of a smart phone in no way requires users to either view or respond to business related emails or calls out of office hours," this from Microsoft's Director of People and Culture, Steve Harvey.<br /><br />Mr. Harvey continues: "Individuals are not skilled in setting the boundaries between work and home (and) colleagues fail to respect other's rights to free time." Guidelines were issued after Microsoft gave more than 400 employees a Smartphone, a Tablet PC, and broadband access at home. Work productivity increased, but people were concerned about encroachments on their personal time.<br /><br />I'm a pretty connected and mobile person. I have a Smartphone, a Tablet PC, and a SPOT watch. I have broadband access at home, and WiFi hot spot access on the road. I'm pretty easy to get hold of - either through voice, IM, or e-mail. You can even contact me while I'm playing games on XBOX Live! I would go insane if I didn't put limits on my time. Now, I don't have a set time when I start shutting down devices at night. Especially since I don't have a typical "9 to 5" sort of job. But if the phone rings while I'm at home, I know that I have the choice of not answering.<br /><br />How do you feel? Is there a pressure to answer every call, reply to every e-mail or text message? Or do you find that you can keep that balance between your work and personal lives?